As you gain more gardening skills you will probably look into starting your own seedlings. Here are all the supplies you need to start seeds.
When I first tried to start my own seeds I failed miserably. I had no clue what I was doing and every single seed I tried to grow died before I could get it to the garden.
I had what I thought I needed: soil, seeds, pots, trays, and water. The problem is I forgot about lighting for the seedlings and I thought seed starting would be so simple.
So, to spare you from having all your seedlings die here are the supplies I use to grow hundreds us vibrant seedlings every year.
Sterile Seed Starting Soil
Sterile is the key word here. While I love to talk about living soil and why it is so important this does not apply to growing plants indoors.
If you used regular top soil for seed starting the fungal spores would most likely kill your plants. I have lost many tomato plants by not using sterile soil.
You can buy organic seed starting soil here that is already sterile. I now mix my own seed starting soil which grows the best plants ever. You can find that recipe here.
Heirloom Seeds
To grow seedlings you definitely need seeds. I only grow heirloom seeds in my garden as I think they are the best.
You can find some of my favorite heirloom seed companies here.
Pots And Trays
To make seed starting easy I recommend getting both pots and trays. These trays will catch any excess water making seed starting less messy.
Instead of plastic trays you can make your own wooden trays. Here are the plans I used to make these reclaimed wood seedlings trays.
You can buy or reuse plastic seed starting cells like these. I also recommend larger pots for seedlings like tomatoes and peppers.
Another great option is a soil block maker. These tools compress soil into a block that acts like a pot. This is a great alternative to plastic pots.
Grow Lights
Trust me, the light coming through your dining room window is not strong enough to grow seedlings. I tried this my first year and quickly learned I needed a grow light.
Sunlight coming through a window will cause your seedlings to stretch and become leggy. Grow lights keep your plant short and healthy.
I use this grow light which has worked very well for me. This covers about one half of a standard seedling tray so get two of them for one tray or move the light around daily.
Watering Can
A small watering can is great for watering your seedlings. I water my seedlings by filling the tray with water and allowing the plants to soak up the moisture from the bottom.
Here is a great all metal watering can for seed starting.
Mister
I use my mister to keep my soil moist before my seedlings emerge. Misting keeps small seeds in the soil without disturbing them.
You can find a handheld pump action mister here. If you have lots of seedlings you should probably use a larger mister like this one.
Heat Mat
Not all seedlings need a heat mat but tomatoes, peppers, and some other plants benefit from them. Heat mats are used for germinating heat loving plants.
I use this heat mat which also has a thermostat. I have better success growing peppers with a heat mat and my tomatoes also love it.
Final Thoughts
All these tools and supplies have helped me to grow healthy seedlings. However, you don't need every item on this list to grow seedlings.
The most important supplies are grow lights and good soil, but you could even use repurposed items for seed starting.
I have seen many gardeners reuse yogurt containers and other items for pots. Get creative and find things you could repurpose to start seeds, but make sure to use good soil!
Pin This!
Leave a Reply